Valve



June 10, 1930. P. J. HOFFMAN 1,762,318 I VALVE I Filed April '11,. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS P. J. HOFFMAN VALVE June 10, 1930.

Filed April 11, 1925' s Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS Jung 10, 1930 P. J. HOFFMAN 1,762,813

VALVE Filed April 11, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS a a5 tends to; work between the sliding Patented Jun 2 0.

'11 l f e? Y Applioati-on-filed Apia 1.1, i925m se iar1vo 2350;

' invention relates to valves and more particularly to plateorshutter valves of the type used in pipeline structures for convey in 'ases such asare evolved in the operation cooperating with the shutter in order thatthe.

.1 5 shutter mightbe sealed to prevent the escape:

of gas'when inueither its closed-or its open In such constructions withwhich position.

I am familiar the movable member 01618: ment to efiectsealingf with respect tot-he 20 shutter hajsiheretcfiore been made to slide Within the gasjmain proper: Th'is arrange.

V ment for sealing the shutter is objectionable for the reason thatobstructionof the gas; line has atendency to collectf=dust and suo'h' dust surfaces,

' thereby preventing the,:proper operation of the sealing jmflIlS forfthe valvefl c Furtherv more,- should; there beany tendenoyfor'the main; to sag;or; distort in thevicinityof the for the *operating parts of. the sealing means 'tobi'nd. -Accordingly;,'therefore, I havezlprovideda .valve, structure,' whichincludes a relatively strong housing: and, in which the I 35 sealing meansfor the. shutterorplatewalve V isarranged entirely-..externally of the mai-n thereby avoiding anyjgt endenqy for accumu'w latingdust ;-;and-' the. actuating device is tso disposed that very: little dust ',Wl1l. come in A contact. with [it and. its; mechanical structure and principle ofoperation are such that it j In ay bejreadily operated eventhoughdust is 7 presentandgefi'ect an "eflieient seal with re;

spect to the shutteriorplate-valvef ,Also, the

.45 movable parts of the sealing means'for -the plate valve are of such acharactenithatgdistbrtibn-Ofth housingfstructui'e will not nter ere w th h propen p t n-1 it seaIing-meansfortheivalve..

i i f 'ei zpg r uspmade a o da e. "with drawi-ngaforming in which: 1

"valve structurev; I

shown in Fig. 1 and-which shall at fall times posedvalveestructurethere would bea tendency i 80am seemed to the flanges 31'. 'Asinay-beseen' from vFig. 3, g "11g lan-d reinforeingstructures;30 are ,.e5 n vertically disposed a-tjoppositei sides '1: 20f the housing; structure. :s'T-heplate valve 25, movable inthe slot 251, Referring to; Fig;-

be eena 'hatthe; p t eter i rife- 50 I spainventionflis :illustrated intheraccompanying I Fig. 1 "is. an end elevation of I my Jflig. 2 is. a: side zelaaedati-the Fig; 3 is a trans-versesectionalfview taken along 2th eligne III-j-lIgIof- Fig. 5 a

"in the direction of thearrowsg a Y i -zFi-g'.p4;ls a view partlvin-pla n and partly v in section of my in 'provedfhou-sirr'g structure; I

Fig. .5; is a J-side steambe the housingandjvalv'estructure;

Fig.5 .Gis a "detail sectional view S owing 1 Y apart of this application,

im roved term e ndviewed and valve thesealing "means for. the :plate valve}; and,v

., Figs. 7 and'f8 are further detailviews.

r Referring now'to the drawings for abet-tel understanding ofmy invention, I showconduit members 10 and; 11 connected by h'ous including columns 13. The -hous ture supports any:

suitable framework, at-L145: for, p arts of the actuating devices forthe plate .ing struc'ture, atf12, the housing str-uctureibev I ing supported loyanvsuitable framework j ingstrueor shutter valve hereinafter referred toi (see resp V The housing structure is; comprised ope conduit forming-members 15 and 16 g. 6") having outer fianges-l7and 1 8, 7 twely, iastened" to the vfi anges 19; and

20' ot-Lthe -:conduits :10 V and 711, respectively.

-29;-;respectivelyl The flange 27 is-disposed adj a'centto; the slot 24 Whereas is:'-spaced;fronr the slot. Spacing Show is i a nv n on l typ 'The'memb'ers 15 and :.16.ar'ef provided-with inwardly extendingjflanges :22 and 23,* re+ 'speotively; which cooperate vto define.- a slot for the-.shuttervor plate. valve- 25; conduit forming, members ,15; ma am 3 also provided with externally. projecting; flanges structures: V

6- d -by lts v two such Y to align with the main when the valve is open; and, when the valve is raised, as

shown in Fig. l, the lower portion thereof entirely obstructs the main. In either position of. the plate valve, it is necessarythat the valve shall be effectively sealed to prevent the escape of gas. The sealing meansfor the valve 25 is comprised'by a"gasket,33 carried by the flange 27 and a gasket 34 carried by an adjustable ring 35. The ring is supported in any suitable fluid tight manner with respect tothe member 15, for example, in Fig. 6, I show the ring 35 secured to the outer periphery of an annular flexible member 36, the inner edge of the latter'lhember being secured to the member 15. The gaskets 33' and 34 are in opposed relation with the plate or shutter valve 25 interposed therebetween. Accordingly therefore, when the ring 35 is moved toward the flange 27 to grip the plate valve 25 between the gaskets 33 and 34,,an effective gas tight seal-is provided with respect to the plate valve.

The gasketcarrying ring 35 is moved to- Ward the plate valve 25 by means of an annular member 37 having a flange38 adapted V to abut against the ring 35 and a sleeve portion 39. The sleeve portion 39 preferably hasa-suitable degree of clearance with respect to the member 15 and its weight is supported by rollers 40 shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

It will, therefore, be'seen that, in operation,

the annular member 37 has no tendency to bind-with'respect to any supporting partand furthermore that it has capacity for transverse relative movement or adjustment with respect to the'ring 35 so that the member 37 is a freely floating body and has no effect oifthe ring 35 except that of abutting said ring in order to effect a gas tight seal. 7

The means for moving the annuular member 37 longitudinally of the member 15 consists of a number of toggle mechanisms 41 which are connected in pairs by links 42, the connected'links and toggles being normally biased in one direction so that the normal tendency of the annular member 37isto move toward'the plate valve25 to effect a seal. For example, in Figs. 1 and 2, I show theflinks42 connected to levers 43, the outer ends of-- the levers 43 carrying adjustable The levers 43 are moved upwardly in 0p position to the weights by any suitable fluid motors 45 connected to a comm-on source-of 1 fluid pressure by a conduit 46 containing conl trol'valve mechanism, not shown. With the admission of fluid under pressure to the m0- tors 45, the weights 44' are overcome and the link and toggle mechanisms are operated to:

retract the annular member 37 so that the plate valve-25 may be moved.- Upon release of fluidpressure from the motor devices 45,

the weights 44 are effective to operate through the lever and toggle mechanisms to move the annular member 37 toward the plate valve in order to grip the plate valve between the gaskets 33 and 34.

Referring now to the linkage and toggle mechanisms more in detail, it will be seen that the annular member 37 is provided with lugs or ears v47,,pivotally connected to links 48, the links 48 being pivotally c-onnected'to crank portions 49 carried by the upper and lower crank shafts 50 supported in bearings 47 on the flange 26. The crank shafts 50 extend transversely of the housing structure, the outer ends of the upper crank shafts 50 being connected to crank arms 51 and the outer ends of the lower crank shafts being connected to the levers 43 already referred to. The crank arms 51 are pivotally connected to the links 42 and the latter are,'in turn, pivotally connected to the levers 43 as already referred to.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 5, it will be seen that the upper and lower toggle mechanisms are reversed in view of the fact that the upper and lower crank shafts operate in opposite directions.

The links 42 have adjustable connections 53 with respect to the'crank arms 51 and have intermediate polygonal portions to facilitate turning when making adjustments. By making proper adjustments between the upper and lowertoggle mechanisms, it is assured that the annular member 37 maybe moved to apply a substantially uniform pressure throughout the circumferential extent of the gaskets.

The plate valve 25 maybe moved in any suitable manner. For example, I show a motor device 55 having an actuated rod element 56,the opposite ends of which are connected to upper and lower cords 57 and 58, the upper cord 57 passing over the sheaves 59 and 60 and being connected tothe upper end of the plate valve '25 while the lower cord 58 passes over the sheaves 61 and 62 and is connected'to the'lower end of the plate valve. A counterweight 63 is connectedto a cord 64 passing over the sheaves 65 and 66 and connected to the upper end of the plate valve 25 so that the latterhas its weight counter-balf anced in all positions. 1

Apparatus made inaccordance, with my'invention operates as follows: When it is deunder pressure to themotor'devices 45.

l/Vhen the'member 37 is retracted, the plate valve 25may be readily moved rand, in order to facilitate this movement, theannular plate 36 is preferably made springy so that as soon as the member 37 starts to move back the plate "member 36 causes the ring 35 to move to release the ga'sket'34 from the plate 25. Thereupon, themotor device 55 may beren a a character'that particles of dust ,vvill not affeet the operation ofthe mechanism Also,

it Will be noted that the principal-operating,

toggle .mechanisms. to r move uneage s i .dered efiectiverto movethelate zvalvefle" to its other position; and, a tersuchflmove-z' ment: is ieffected, fluid under pressure is [released. fromrthe motor-devices permittingthe weightssee-to: act through: the. connected I the 1 annular member 37' to eliecta gas. tight seal Fvv'ith re spect toflthei plate valve.

7 j From. the toregoi 11g; ,ltivvillj Ibe apearnt that-=1 have providedxalvalve suitable for gasimains. such rast are used. in connection" with blastfurnacesjin; which "the operating mechanisms are of; a simple character, in;

Which-"adjustments may be: readily made, i

which the load of'operating parts is entirely removed fromv the-gasket or sealing means and in which the operatingparts are of; such member forthe: gasket 'orsea'li'ng means, namely, the annular member37, is a freely floating body so that the weight 1 thereof is taken oil. the conduit portion 15 ;thatthe opera-tingimechanisms for the annular member are of, simple, mugged; and power ful character andthat the" operating 'fmjember37. hasjmerelyabutrhen el t on v i h respect to: the 1 gaske e ns- It wi11,-the

fore, be apparenmthat deforma ion of the housing structure willnot aflect the-,-opera ti n 'of the annular memberfi' and also any tendency oi theiannular member 37 to assume-anj eccentric relation with respect -'to .thevrnain haS no efifect upon the 'gasket;str11c.-

ture' V I claimas new and desireit o secure by Letters 7 Having thus [described the invention vvhat Patent is:

sai d. movablemember to sealing position,- and means for retractingthemovablemember'tO I to ;,be;eas1ly moved,

pe'rmit the valve 2. In a valve,ithe'combination-of a'hd'us ing structure including opposed; conduit" members'defining a'slot, a platevalvemovable-in the slot, a member movable externally of one of the conduitimembersr and cooperat- 111g with the; other condu t member l1flQlLW ltl1i the plate valyeto effect agas tightjseal of said valve With respectto the; conduit'gnemi-c Fbers, means for'normally moving thekrnov ablermember tosealing positionimfeanslinter retractin the movable member, and: means for'moviiig theplate-valve.

- 3. A valve for-a pipe line comprising-a 7 housing structure including opposed conduit portions cooperating to define "a transverse 7 slot and" externally pro] eating flange; portions Connected by; a-.-spacingstructure,- one of; said fiange,.,portions being. disposed adjacentto the slot-andthe other :flange portion being spaced therefrom, a plate valvejmo'vable v in the, slot, a. gasketcarriedgbythe flange-lad}- acent;to the .slot; a member movable longitudinallyo'fone; of the conduit portions and having a gasket disposedxin opposed relation to j the first I gasket; means for' moving-the plate val'i 'e} and 7 means for normally moving the:movablesmember so as to cause the gas? kets togri p theplate valve to effect agas tight sealp V 4. A valvecomprising a housingstructure including opposed members definlng a. slot,

a plate valvemovable-in;theslot; a gasketcarried by one oftheflmembers and disposed at one sideof the slot, 'a movable gasket-harried] by the other member, and means for'nora anally causing the latter gasket toi movei to:

ward and gripsthe plate valve, and means forf hreleasingtheiplatevalve;

i A valve comprising a 'housingstru'cture including first and second: members de-f fining a slot, a plate valve movable :in'the slot, a flange on. the-first of said members, I r v a gasket; carried by the flange land adapted toco-ntactwitli one side-of the plate a second 1 plat'evalve and inopposed relation tofthei? 1 gasket for. engaging the other side'offthe I Y i portingthe: second gasket, a fluid tight; con-' nect on between the mug andthe second mem= between the gaskets, andmeans for rendermg the last-named means lneflect ve' ',lJGl,- means for normallymoving the "rings I toward" the "plate -va'lve -.to gripithe latter 6. A valve. comprising a I housing;- structure including first and 1 second. members definx 'ing ia' slot; aplate niemberllnovable in the slot, 'a flange on the first of saidfmembers, a gasket caniedbythe flange andjadapted tofcontact with one' side of the plate meml- 7 'ber, a second gasket for engaging theother side of thelplate member' and in; opposed relation .to the first gasket, .a ring movable; I axiallyfensupporting.thesecond -'gask'et,' a -flexibleai inular membenconnected toithe" r ring and to the second member to" provide.

for a fluid tightconnection hile permitting of axial 'movementofzthe ring, means for normally mo-vingthering toward the plate f member to'grip thellatter bet een-thegas -l kets, and means for rendering the-last-named inea'ns ineffective l a 7. Ayalvecompr sing a; housing en-mare; r finclu dingfirsti andisecon'd members defining 1 slot-tanaaperture'd Plate-unovable; iii-*the j flange on thefirst of saidinembersja' carried-by the. flange and 'adapted to conta ct"W1thone "side of the platefa second gasket for e'ngaging :the othersideofthe a 7 'iplat'e an'd in opposed1relationI to the-jfirstfl' t gaskeh a ring movziblehziallyf .ofthe gme 5 W bore-orsupporting the secend gasket, aiffluid i tight connection between the ring and the secondmember, an annular member movable longitudinally of the second member, means for normally moving the annular member toward the ring to abutthereagainst and to cause the latter-to move to grip the plate bet-ween the gaskets, and means for retracting'the' annular member.

18.713; valve comprising a housing structure including first and second members defining a slot, an apertured plate movable in the slot, a flange on the first ofsaid members, a gas ket carried by the flange and adapted to contact with one side of the plate, a second gasket for engaging the other side of the plate and in opposed relation to thefirst gasket, a ring movable axially of the members for supporting the second gasket, a fluid ring, supporting means for the annular mem tight'connectio'n between the ringand the second'member, an annular member spaced fromand movable longitudinally of the second memberand adapted to abut against said 'l381', a plurality of toggle mechanisms connected to the annular member, and means for operating the toggle mechanisms in opposite directions;

9.- A valve comprising a housingstructure sincluding'flrst and second members defining ring,'means for moving the annular member in one direction to cause the ring to move to grip the valve plate between the gaskets, and

means for moving the annular member in the other direction in order to release the valve 10, Avalve comprising a housing structure including first and second members defining aslot, a valve plate movable-in the slot, a flange on the first vof said members, a gasket carried by the flange and adapted to contact with one side of the valve plate, a second v V fluid. tight connection between the ring andthe second member, an annular member ngasket for engaging the other side of the valve-plate, a ring'movable axially of the members for supporting the second gasket, a

eluding a'sleeve portion of larger internal diameterthan the external diameter of said second member and a flange portion for abutting saidring, means for supporting the annular member out of contact with the second member, means for moving the annular memberto cause the. rinq to move to grip the valve plate between the gaskets, and'means agaeasis for retracting the annular member in order that the valve plate may berelea-sed. u r

11. A valvecomprising a housing structure including'first and second members defining a slot, a valve plate movable inthe slot, a flange on the first of said members, a gasket 7 carried by the'flange and adapted to contact with one side of the valve/plate, a second gasket for engaging the other side of the valve plate, a ring movable axially of the membersfor supporting the second gasket, a fluid tight connection between the ring and the second member, a longitudinally movable annular member having an abutment portion adapted to abut against said ring, means for supporting the annularmember out of contact with the'second member, and means for moving the annular member in opposite directions. 1 l

s 12. A valve comprising a housing structure including first and second members defining a slot, a vlave plate movable in the slot, a flange on the first of said members, a gasket carriedby the flange and adapted to contact with one side of the valve plate, asecond gasket for engaging the'other-side of the valve plate, a ring movable axially of the members for supporting the second gasket, a fluid tight connection between the ring and the second member, a longitudinally movable annular member having an abutment portion adapted to abut against said ring, 'mea'n's'for supporting the annular member out of contact with the second member, toggle mechanisms con? nected to the annular member, weight means for rendering the toggle mechanisms eilective to move the annular member to cause the ring to gripthe valve plate between the gas kets, and fluid pressure responsive means for movingfthe toggle mechanisms in the opposite direction to retract the annular member.

13. A valvecomprising a housing'structure including first and second members defining a slot, a valve platemovable in the slot, a flange on the first of said members, a gasket carried by the flange and adapted to contact with one side of the valv'e plate, a second gasket for'enga'ging the other side of the valve plate, a ring-movable axially of the members for supporting the second gasket, a fluid t-ight'connection between the ring and the second member, a longitudinally movable annular 'memberfhaving an abutment portion adapted'toabut against said ring, means for supporting the annular member out of contact with the second member, pairs of'upper and lower shafts carried by the second'member', crank arms carried by the shatts,-links for-connecting the crank arms to the annular member,other crank arms caried by the pairs of shafts, links for connectthe last-named crank arms of the respective pairs of shafts, lever arms carried by the lower, crank arms, weights carried by the lever arms, and fluidpressure responsive decarried by the flange and adapted to contact with'one side of the valve plate, a second gasket for engagingthe other side of the. valve plate, a ring movable axially of the members for supporting the second gasket, a fluid tight connection between the ring and the second member, a longitudinally movable annular member having an abutment portion adapted to abut against sa d r ng, meansfor supporting the annular member out of contact with the second member,pairs ofupper and lower shafts carried by the second member, crank arms carried by the shafts, links for connecting the crank arms to the annular way, a rigid non-movable valve-seat mounted on one slde of said'valve plate passageway,

member, other crank arms carried by the pairs ofshafts, adjustable links for connecting the last-namedcrank arms of the respective pairs of shafts, lever arms carried by "the lower crank arms weightscarried by the other 'ends of the lever members and fluid: pressure rewe sponsive devices havingfthe actuated elements thereof connected to thelever arms to operate the latter in opposition to the weights,

15. Avalve comprising ahousingstructure including first and second members defining carried by the flange and adapted to'conta'ct with one side of the valve'plate, a'second a force said movable seat against said valve plate and to force said plate intoenga'gement withsaid rigid non-movable seat to form a V tight joint between said'valve-seats and'said 1 In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my a'slo't, a valve plate movable in thegslot, a v flange on the first of said members, a gasket I ,eis l i transversely of the line,valve clamping means. i g V,

movable longitudinally of the line, means for exerting a constantly acting force in one direction 'operatively connected to the valve 7 clamping means to move the same bodily in a direction to sealethe valve to the line, and means for releasing the seal against the actions I of the constantlyacting force.

18. In a valve mechanism the combination of a valve plate movable transversely of the line, means bodily movable relative to the line forclamping the valve I plate'to the line, means acting automatically to move the clamping meansinto clamping en-" 1 gagement with'the valve plate, and means under the'cont'rol ofan operator for moving the clampingmeans out of clamping engagement.

- 19. A plate valve comprising a valve body;

having a valve plate passageway therein, a" valve platemovably mountedin said passagea movable seat mounted onarthe othersidefof said passageway, means'normally tending to I 90 valve plate, and mechanical means for releasing said movable valve-seat. Q 3rd day of April, 1925."

signature'this PHILIP J. HOFFMAN.-

gasket for engaging the other side of the valve v plate, a ring movable axially of the members for supporting the second gasket, a fiuid tight I connection between the ring andthe second member, a longitudinally movable annular memberhaving an abutment portion adapted to abut against said ring, means for supporting the annular member out'of contact with the second member, pairs of upper and lower shafts carried by the second member, crank arms carried by the shafts, links for connecting the crank arms to the annular member, f

other crank arms .carried by the pairs of shafts, adjustable links for connecting thelast-named crank arms of the respectivepairs 1 of shafts, means for normally biasing the connected levers and crank shafts for movement v to cause the ring to move and'engageits gasket with the valve plate, and means for rendering the last-named meansineffective. 16. In a valve, opposed conduit members defining a slot,'a plate valve movable inthe fora pipe line, -1:; 

